Chasing My Husband! The "Crown Prince" of the Beijing Circle Is Wildly Unruly! - Chapter 104

Lu Jingze was a man of his word. Lu Lixing’s company was pushed to a dead end. To survive, Lixing had to “sever his own tail”—sacrificing nearly half of his business operations and suffering losses totaling tens of billions.

A bloodbath had descended upon Kyoto’s business world. The “Crown Prince’s” methods had always been consistent: either he didn’t strike at all, or he left his opponent with no path of retreat.

Qian Siyue’s company was entangled with one of Lu Lixing’s subsidiaries, and he was currently frantic. He knew that because Wang Xinghe still hadn’t woken up, the Crown Prince had cut off almost all contact with the outside world. In desperation, Qian Siyue called Zhao Yan, believing him to be the only person who might get the Prince to grant a reprieve.

At that moment, Zhao Yan was processing contracts. Because of Wang Xinghe, Lu Jingze had granted Zhao Yan access to overseas channels he never would have dared to dream of before. Specifically in customs and logistics, Lu Jingze was even willing to let Zhao Yan’s goods pass through his private ports. This was equivalent to gifting him thirteen million yuan in membership fees annually, on top of waiving various procedural costs and avoiding the risk of goods being seized.

Zhao Yan looked down at his vibrating phone. It was Qian Siyue, whom he hadn’t spoken to in quite a while.

Qian Siyue’s surname was Qian, but he wasn’t from the main branch of the Qian family. The main Qian family was a prestigious clan that even Lu Jingze would show face to. But those outside the main branch were essentially no different from ordinary wealthy heirs. At most, they had a one-time “death exemption gold medal” behind them—if something truly catastrophic happened, the elders of their branch could go to the main family, kneel, and beg for help. However, that kind of pleading could only be used once in a lifetime. Spending such a favor on Qian Siyue was clearly not deemed worth it by his family.

“Hello, Siyue.” Zhao Yan’s voice was gentle. He had taken off his glasses and was rubbing his eyes.

“Zhao Yan, buddy, I can’t hold out much longer. I’m swallowing my pride to beg you for a favor.” Qian Siyue gave a general overview of the business involved. Currently, everything was stuck in the hands of an acting vice-president of a small company under the Crown Prince’s industrial umbrella. If this deal fell through, his initial investment of 30%—nearly seven or eight hundred million yuan—would vanish. That money was liquid capital, not fixed assets; if it went down the drain, it would truly break his spirit and his life. His other projects would inevitably collapse like a house of cards.

Zhao Yan lowered his eyes. Qian Siyue had helped him with numerous favors, both large and small. He couldn’t remain indifferent now that the man had come to him in such a state.

“Siyue, I can only try through my partner, He Zheng. If He Zheng won’t help, I won’t dare go to the boss. You know that in President Lu’s current state, no one can control him, unless…” Zhao Yan’s eyes filled with sadness. “Unless Xinghe wakes up. Perhaps then you’ll have a chance at salvation.”

Zhao Yan’s voice carried an unspeakable desolation. Xinghe’s life had been too bitter—so bitter that even coffee or coptis root would seem sweet by comparison.

“Dammit! I’m going to the White Cloud Temple right now to buy a Longevity Tablet for Xinghe! Then I’m going to the Guangji Temple to burn incense for him! I’ll pray for that ancestor to wake up quickly.”

A spark lit up Zhao Yan’s eyes. Why hadn’t he thought of that? “I’ll go with you. Let’s meet at the White Cloud Temple.”

Zhao Yan had almost forgotten that in this world, there were still gods and Buddhas to turn to.

As he gathered his files to leave, he bumped into a weary-looking He Zheng carrying a lunchbox. Zhao Yan felt a pang in his heart and hurried forward to take the box. He wrapped an arm around He Zheng’s waist to support him. “A-Zheng, you’re too tired.”

He Zheng, acting shamelessly in front of Zhao Yan’s assistant, stole a quick kiss. “I’m not tired.”

The assistant, showing great situational awareness, turned around and made a quick exit.

“Stop running back and forth at noon; it’s too exhausting, A-Zheng.” Concerned, Zhao Yan helped him to the sofa and began massaging his temples.

He Zheng pulled Zhao Yan’s hand down and kissed the back of it. “Eat well. I’m going to lie on the sofa and sleep for a bit. I have to leave at 1:30.”

With that, He Zheng closed his eyes and fell into a weary slumber. Zhao Yan draped his own cloak over him. He checked his watch; it was 12:10 PM. He Zheng had over an hour to sleep.

Zhao Yan sent a message to Qian Siyue.

[Zhao Yan]: Sorry, go on ahead. I’ll be there in an hour. [Qian Siyue]: I’ll go myself, it’s fine. I’ll take a photo for you. [Zhao Yan]: No need. Sincerity is what matters. [Qian Siyue]: I swear, no one is more sincere than I am right now.

Zhao Yan didn’t reply again. He opened the lunchbox. Inside were Beijing Duck wraps and salmon—cooked medium-rare. He didn’t like completely raw salmon, finding the texture off-putting; he much preferred the sear on the outside with a tender inside. The second layer was a vegetable salad, and the third was sliced apples, avocados, and wax apples. The soup was a separate earthen pot of aged duck and mountain ginseng soup—perfect for clearing “internal heat” during the transition between spring and summer.

He Zheng truly understood his preferences. In this world, there was no lover more sincere than He Zheng. His love was like oxygen—omnipresent. Zhao Yan often ignored it subconsciously, but once he calmed down, he realized he could no longer live without it.

“He Zheng, you’re cheating,” Zhao Yan whispered. He ate slowly, leaving half of every layer for He Zheng. Afterward, he sat by the sofa, staring at the tired, peaceful sleeping face until he lost himself in the sight.

Eventually, his phone vibrated. Zhao Yan snapped out of it and looked down.

[Qian Siyue]: I’m actually moved to tears, man. I had to slap myself to believe what I was seeing was real. [Photo]

Zhao Yan clicked the photo. It showed Lu Jingze kneeling before a statue of a deity. His thin profile was etched with an endless, profound sorrow.

Zhao Yan’s eyes grew hot. Lu Jingze truly loved Xinghe with everything he had.

God, Zhao Yan prayed in his heart, look down with your merciful eyes and see these two lovers.

His eyes were still red when He Zheng opened his. Zhao Yan blinked in surprise. “Why are you awake?”

“I smelled your scent.” He Zheng reached out, his thumb wiping a tear from the corner of Zhao Yan’s eye. “Why are you crying?”

Zhao Yan gently placed his hand over He Zheng’s eyes. “Rest well. You still have forty minutes.”

The sofa in the lounge was large, making the curled-up He Zheng look strangely vulnerable. Zhao Yan’s heart softened, and he sat on the edge of the sofa. “I’ll stay with you.”

He Zheng relaxed completely, pulling Zhao Yan into his arms and closing his eyes in peace.

Qian Siyue spent a hundred thousand yuan to purchase a Longevity Tablet for Wang Xinghe to be enshrined in the Taoist temple. A specialist priest performed a ritual for him.

As he was walking out, he happened to run into Lu Jingze walking in. Terrified like a little quail, he hurriedly bowed. “Master Lu.”

Because of his extreme weight loss, Lu Jingze’s eyes were sunken, making his features appear deeper, sharper, and colder.

“Mm,” Lu Jingze acknowledged with a soft grunt, stepping over the high red-lacquered threshold.

Just then, the priest responsible for the ritual walked up and called out to Qian Siyue, “Layman Qian, the Longevity Tablet for Wang Xinghe has been properly placed. We can coordinate through mobile for any further steps.”

Lu Jingze’s footsteps paused. He turned to look at Qian Siyue.

Fearing he had overstepped, Qian Siyue quickly explained, “I was supposed to come with Zhao Yan, but he was busy and will be here later. I… I just wanted to get the enshrinement started.”

Lu Jingze nodded slowly toward him. “Thank you.”